Here are some of things people had to say about Bill O’Brien, his power and his politics.

“He has done a decade of damage in two short years. What’s amazing to me is it’s come from someone who never paid his dues, never got an appreciation for the process or understood what it takes to work your way up to leadership which gives you such respect for it.”

– Peter Burling, a former state Senator and House Democratic leader who now serves on the Democratic National Committee,

“He is clearly setting the agenda for the Republican Party of New Hampshire, all of it. I believe he is out of touch with the mainstream of New Hampshire, but he’s been truly transformative in that he is not the fringe of the Republican Party – he’s defining it.”

– Pam Walsh, senior adviser to the New Hampshire Democratic Party

“He is very calculated. You can tell he has experience in the courtroom. The guy speaks to the jury; you know he can make his case. Believe me, if you were on his side, you would be slapping him on the back all day long. This speaker is a hands-on guy; it is how he gets his agenda accomplished.”

“He is the first speaker who has actually punished people for not following the line. While there were plenty of threats before, it was never carried out. He’s been an in-your-face speaker and seems perfectly comfortable with that role and image.”

-- Former Senate Majority Leader Robert Clegg of Hudson

“We’ve been watching what’s happened in the past 18 months and it’s bringing the whole Republican Party down. We are going to hammered in the next election. It’s not only the leadership style, it’s the truthfulness – not being told the whole truth, partial truth or out and out being lied to.”

“Other speakers have tossed people off committees. This is not anything new; he has probably been a bit more obvious. He doesn’t try to hide behind coyness of having his minions do the dirty work.”

– Fran Wendelboe, lobbyist and former Republican Representative

“One of the things we are concerned about is the injection from national groups, groups such as national right-to-work, that sometimes get a little extra attention paid. This is New Hampshire. New Hampshire values are important,”

– David Lang, president Professional Firefighters Association

“These people truly believe in no government. They don’t believe in small government, they believe in no government, and they won’t stop until they’ve got it.”

– Rick Trombly, of the New Hampshire branch of the National Education Association, the statewide teachers union. “

“He has always maintained strong Republican values, and he shaped the party platform. That makes it easier to stand behind now. … In everything that he’s done, he’s been right in concert with the ideals of our party.”

– Dan Itse, Republican State Representative from Fremont, and member of the Republican Alliance.

“He’s certainly got bills passed. I think he’s accomplished a lot more than people thought he would accomplish. People didn’t think he would be able to get the votes to become speaker.”